Back to all Practice Areas
Info For Medical Providers

Information For Medical Providers

Below is a list of questions regarding ordering diagnostic tests and referrals for other treatment.


Back to all Practice Areas

Questions regarding ordering diagnostic tests, and referrals for other treatment

1) Ordering diagnostics and referral for other treatment

If you are having trouble getting the insurer to authorize a diagnostic imaging study, WCD has a rule that can force the insurer to act: OAR 436-010-0230 (12) (Effective Oct. 1, 2015) indicates that a medical provider may contact an insurer in writing for pre-authorization of diagnostic imaging studies other than plain film X-rays. The insurer is required to respond to the provider's request in writing whether the service is pre-authorized or not pre-authorized within 14 days of receipt of the request.

For other services, such as physical therapy or EMG studies, the WCD has indicated that the insurer cannot ignore requests for preauthorization as it can stall the worker’s ability to access the care needed to get better. If providers want preauthorization for services, we recommend requesting that in writing so a record can be tracked if a medical dispute must be made to force the insurer to make a decision.

A Requests for Surgery must be in writing, and the WCD mandates that the insurer has 7 days to respond.

2) Treatments that can be provided under a closed claim

While curative medical care is only available under an open claim, you can provide a certain kind of medical treatment to injured workers with a closed claim. The following are some examples of medical treatment available to an injured worker with a closed claim:

  • You may prescribe ongoing prescription medication for a patient with a closed claim.
  • Order diagnostic services. Diagnostic treatment can be especially helpful under a closed claim if your patient has ongoing complaints and you suspect they may be suffering from a newly developed condition, a condition that has not yet been identified, or when there has been a worsening of an existing condition (for more information, see the section on aggravation and new/omitted condition claims below).
  • Palliative care to temporarily restrict or reduce the intensity of an otherwise stable condition. Palliative care is available to injured workers who are working or engaged in vocational retraining where treatment is necessary to enable the worker to continue in current employment or vocational retraining. You must submit a written request for palliative care to the insurer. In it, you must identify the condition for which palliative care is being requested, as well as objective findings. In the written request you must also include a treatment plan with the names of the provider who will provide the care, and specify the treatment modalities and the frequency and duration, not to exceed 180 days, and explain how the services will help your patient to continue employment or vocational retraining. The insurer has 30 days to approve a palliative care plan.
  • Curative care that is generally only available for open claims is available under a closed claim in order to stabilize a temporary and acute waxing and waning of symptoms.
  • Curative care for an aggravation of an injury where the compensable work injury has worsened and may require comprehensive medical treatment or even surgery for your patient to get back to medically stationary status (see section below on aggravation claims).

Importance Of Providing Work Restrictions

Injured workers may be entitled to time loss (wage replacement) benefits if they are completely unable to work. They may also be entitled to time loss benefits if they are capable of modified work but their employer does not have modified work available. However, an injured worker is only entitled to time loss benefits if a doctor takes him or her off work or provides work restrictions in writing. You must specify if the injured worker is to remain off work or has with work restrictions after every visit. You may also specify an open ended work restrictions by indicating in writing that your patient is off of work until further notice. Additionally, retroactive work restrictions can be authorized for up to 14 days.

If an injured worker's claim has been denied, it is important to continue to provide work restrictions or provide an open ended work restriction if applicable. That way, if the injured worker prevails over the denial, they will be able to recoup time loss benefits owed while their claim was in denied status. It is also important to continue to provide work restrictions when applicable even if the injured worker has been terminated from employment and is not working.

Getting Paid For Medical Services

If you are not paid for medical services provided to an injured worker because the claim is denied, the insurer is required to pay your bills if the denial is overturned or if the injured worker enters into a Disputed Claim Settlement (DCS) with the insurer. It is important that you continue to bill the insurer even where a claim has been denied because if an injured worker wins at a hearing, the insurer must pay all of the medical bills in its possession after a judge’s order is final. If an injured worker enters into a Disputed Claim Settlement (DCS), any medical bills in the insurer’s possession must be paid out of that settlement.

If you are treating an injured worker with an accepted claim but your medical bills are not getting paid, you may need to initiate a medical services dispute with the Workers’ Compensation Division. You can initiate a dispute with Form 2842 available on the Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division website.

If you are aware that your patient has an attorney, you should reach out to the attorney directly for assistance with any unpaid or denied medical bills. For attorneys that represent injured workers it is a priority that our clients get the treatment they are entitled to and that their medical providers get paid for services.

Q: When should the provider make an aggravation claim?

A: Providers generally make aggravation claims before getting the diagnostic services they need to substantiate whether a pathological worsening has occurred. You can order these diagnostic services under a closed claim without first filing an aggravation claim. Doing so prevents unnecessary litigation and excess claims processing for claims that were made prematurely.

Q: When should the provider tell the worker to ask for a new condition to be accepted?

A: If you suspect that the worker suffered more than the simple strain or contusion condition accepted, you should order the diagnostic tests you need to confirm your diagnosis before suggesting that the worker add this condition to the claim.

The best way to frame your request for diagnostics for a condition that is not accepted under the claim is to just say you "need these diagnostic services to determine the nature and extent of the work injury."

Workers' Compensation

How do I find a good doctor?

You should see if your primary care doctor will help you. However, many primary care doctors no longer deal with Workers’ Compensation. If that’s the case, look for a reputable doctor. Check reviews, ask other injured workers who their doctor was or check with a workers’ compensation attorney. Finding a good attending physician is the single most important thing you can do to get the care you need and benefits you are entitled to for your injury.

Do I have to follow up with the doctor that I am directed to at an urgent care clinic or the emergency room?

If you initially present for treatment at an urgent care clinic or the emergency room, you will often be directed to a follow up appointment. You are not obligated to follow up with that doctor but rather can choose to find another doctor of your choosing. Because your attending physician is so important to your claim, it is important to find a doctor you trust that is supportive of your claim.

Can my employer tell me where to get medical treatment?

No, it is against the law for your employer to direct your medical care. Instead, you are free to seek medical care with a provider of your choosing. If you don’t know where to go, your primary care doctor is often times a good place to start. If the employer has directed your care, alert the ombudsman for injured workers at 503-378-3351.

I’m doing modified work for my employer but what do I do when they give me work beyond my restrictions?

Unfortunately, this is a common problem. The best way to handle this is to have a copy of your doctor’s work restrictions with you at work. If you are asked to do work that is outside of your restrictions, politely point out that what you are being asked to do is outside your doctor’s restrictions. Make clear that you want to do modified work, but that you cannot physically do what is being asked of you. Talk with your attending physician about any problems you are having to see if the doctor can clarify or further restrict the work you are being released to. It is very important that your doctor and employer do not think you just don’t want to work. If the doctor thinks you are trying to shirk work, it creates real problems with your claim.

What if I get injured on the job but I’m not sure I want to file a workers’ compensation claim?

You should document an injury sustained on the job in writing and notify a supervisor immediately, even if you do not plan to file a workers’ compensation claim. While initially a tweak or a strain sustained on the job may not seem like a big deal, you protect your right to file a workers’ compensation claim in the future.


Get In Touch

(503) 228-5222
Info For Medical Providers

Representative Cases

Deceptive Insurer Medical Questionnaire 2020

Our client got hurt on the job and filed for workers’ compensation.  His claim was accepted, and when it came time to close the claim and award him permanent disability benefits, we appealed the award paid by the State Accident…
Learn More

Workers’ compensation time loss dispute 2019

Claimant, a framer, was seriously injured when he fell three stories to the ground while working on a construction project. He was off of work due to his injuries for a substantial amount of time. Under the workers’ compensation laws,…
Learn More

Vasquez v. Double Press 2019

Zeferino Vasquez was cleaning a jam out of his employer’s hay baler when a hydraulic ram pinched him against the baler’s frame, crushing his spine.  His injuries left him paraplegic.  He filed a workers’ compensation claim and an action against…
Learn More
View All Cases
Thanks & Praise

Testimonials

  • I practiced workers’ compensation law in Portland for over 40 years. 
    In 2012 I was retained by a 36-year-old man who sustained severe injuries, including the loss of both hands, as a result of having been electrocuted while working as a lineman for a power company in Oregon.  Since I was planning to retire in 2015 and the battle over the extent of his permanent disability was just beginning to heat up, I looked for another attorney to associate with and take over the case if necessary.  After speaking with Chris Frost, I concluded that she was the right choice and my client agreed. With her help, we were then able to achieve a very desirable result for our client in a relatively short period of time.  Chris and her staff have the reputation of being the best workers' compensation firm in Oregon and my client and I were fortunate to work with them.  I am pleased to recommend her.
    Doug Hagen, Portland
  • I practiced personal injury law in Portland for most of my nearly forty-one-year career.
    In 2012 I was retained by a 31-year-old husband and father of two who had been catastrophically injured - including being permanently blinded in both eyes - when he was run over by a piece of construction equipment in a work accident in Clark County, Washington.  In on-the-job accidents, a worker may not sue his employer for negligence and this was one of those cases where any case against other contractors on the job would be expensive, legally complex and technically challenging.  I decided, after conducting many hours of research and investigation, that a case could be made but it would be a long and expensive undertaking.  While continuing to work on the case, I began looking for help from another firm.  I talked with a number of lawyers but each of them thought that the case would be too expensive and difficult to take on. Then a trial lawyer friend of mine recommended Ray Thomas and his firm. I had known Ray for many years and called him up and gave him an overview of the case. He was aware of the difficulties but felt the case had merit, so he and his partner Cynthia Newton filed a Freedom of Information action and obtained access to all of the thousands of pages of documents for the construction project. The documents revealed that the other contractors on the job site had failed to provide a job site plan for safe movement of equipment and traffic, despite the fact that run over, backing and pinch point injuries and deaths are extreme dangers for workers on jobs like this one. Their partner, Jim Coon, filed the personal injury and loss of consortium lawsuit in both Oregon and Washington, and he fought to obtain the necessary legal rulings to go forward with the case. After many depositions and other preparation for trial, the case was finally settled shortly before trial, in February 2017, in a confidential settlement that included satisfaction of a large Washington Labor and Industries lien.

    I believe that the work done by Ray, Jim, Cynthia and their staff was pivotal to obtaining an excellent result for our client, and also delivered the important message that job traffic control safety is important. Without their strong work it is unlikely that such favorable results would have been obtained.
    Doug Hagen, Portland
  • Thanks Chris and Aaron for the great work you did with my Workers’ Comp case.
    You handled everything so well, I was happy with the settlement amount and the turnaround time. I’m definitely referring people to you, you were great.
    Lily, Portland
  • When I fell at work
    and got a concussion, I was surprised by how many serious symptoms I was having. I had not known what a “mere” concussion can really do to someone. Then, to add insult to injury, my workers compensation claim did not go smoothly. Luckily, though, I called Swanson, Thomas, Coon & Newton, and spoke with Stephanie Bales, Christine Frost’s assistant. She was like a ray of sunshine for me: someone who listened to me, took me seriously, and made me feel as if there was someone out there ? besides my doctor ? who was on my side. That meant a lot to me.
    Margie, Portland
  • We had another lawyer
    who was retiring and told us we needed to find another lawyer. We talked with Chris who was the first person who actually took the time to sit down and talk to us about what was happening and explained how the workers’ comp system worked and helped us very much in deciding what to do about our case. Chris was amazing, and a fountain of information and we could tell she really knew what she was talking about.
    Cheryl and Jeff, Walla Walla, WA
  • I had a worker’s comp claim
    and was nervous about getting a lawyer, but I am glad I did. Chris and her staff were great about explaining things. They sorted out my time loss rate and got me a good settlement.
    Suzette, Portland
  • I am a registered nurse
    who had a very complex workers’ compensation case and had basically lost hope. Chris Frost took this case even though 5 years had already passed and there was a large volume of documentation to sift through. She was thorough and creative and won my case! Her staff was great to work with. I highly recommend Chris Frost to anyone needing help with a Worker’s Compensation matter.
    Connie, Eastern Oregon
  • My name is John Gray
    and as a former and extremely satisfied client of Swanson Thomas Coon and Newton I would like to briefly convey my experience. The firm has represented me from the onset of my Work place accident, through the hurdles of the Oregon Worker’s Compensation system, Third Party Liability, all the way to Social Security Disability. The specialized representation I received has made my life better in too many ways to share. My education by my attorneys on all the pitfalls of each claim type and area, meant knowledgeable communication by myself and my attorneys, resulting in a positive resolution on all counts.
    John W. Gray Jr
View All Testimonials

We can help

Get in touch for a free consultation.